Chapter 25

The posse made good time to where the trail had been lost on Sunday evening. They'd picked up Jess's trail from there but had lost it again just before the point where Jess had been ambushed that afternoon. The light had begun to fade and they'd called it a day and back-tracked to a spot they had noted as suitable for their overnight stop. They made a cold camp that night not wanting to risk attracting attention to their presence, deciding to start out at first light and hoping to be able to pick up Jess's trail again and follow it right to Cal Danby and his two friends. Maybe they'd have an element of surprise. Maybe.

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Outside, the sun had gone down but the level of light in the cave changed little. Two kerosene lamps added their lighter glow to the ruddy flickering of the fire and these were topped up on a regular basis by Abe or Billy from the can of kerosene at the back of the cave.

Millie held Jess close for a long time but when her arms had grown tired she'd lowered him gently down cradling his head on her lap. Cal seemed to have lost interest in them for which Millie was profoundly grateful. Jess had been restless; drifting in and out of consciousness and several times when Millie had looked down at him she'd found him looking drowsily up at her. Millie wasn't sure if he was aware of his surroundings and the only time he spoke, he asked for water. Millie knew he needed the water desperately but she had none to give him. The last thing she wanted to do was draw Cal's attention back to Jess and she didn't dare ask for water.

Cal broke off his conversation with Abe and looked over at Millie. "She's gotta learn to forget Harper. I wanna be out of here at first light, whether he hangs on or not" he said.

Abe followed Cal's gaze. He wished he could inspire in a woman the sort of devotion that Millie showed for Harper. He could see that Millie wouldn't be forgetting about Jess for a long, long time if ever, and she'd certainly never willingly submit to Cal's attentions. He watched as she tenderly stroked a dark lock of hair back from Jess's forehead. He was beginning to feel a little sorry for Millie. The only reason she's caught up in all this is 'cause I told Cal about her and Harper he thought. He hadn't expected Cal to hang on to her so obdurately and he was feeling a little guilty about it. He'd had some sympathy for Jeannie, the way Cal treated her. He didn't like to see a woman treated the way Cal had treated Jeannie and he didn't want to see Millie a victim of the same sort of cruelty that Jeannie had been subjected to. He looked away from Millie and back to Cal to find he was being watched intently.

"I hope you ain't goin' soft on me Abe?" Cal said suspiciously. "Or are you gettin' sweet on Millie? 'Cos if you are, I suggest you think real hard about it. Millie's mine. Let's get that straight."

Abe was wary of Cal but he wasn't afraid of him. He was aware of Cal's instability and of how unpredictable he was, but he knew he could hold his own against the man. Abe had told Cal about Jeannie purely because he wanted to get back at Harper and he'd known Cal would blame Jess, as surely as he'd blamed him for getting him and his brother put inside for two years. Abe thought it was time to split with him but his kid brother had once told him what had happened when Harper split with Cal and he knew he had to tread very carefully.

"I ain't sweet on Millie" Abe responded calmly. "But it seems to me she don't consider herself belongin' to anyone but Harper and if you can't see that Cal, you're foolin' yourself. You surely don't think she'll ever have any sort of feelin' for you after what you done to Harper, do ya? You'll never get any joy of Millie I can tell ya that now. She meant what she said earlier. She'd rather be dead."

"Well, that can be arranged" Cal sneered viciously.

Abe shook his head. "Oh no, Cal. Bringin' Millie back here as bait for Harper was one thing but I want nothin' to do with causin' her any more harm" he said. "You know, you got a blind spot a mile wide where that gal's concerned and that's dangerous. It's gonna bring all of us more trouble than she's worth. I agree it's time we moved on and tomorrow's none too soon for me but you can't drag Millie around with you if she ain't willin'. For one thing, you won't be able to keep an eye on her all the time and sooner or later someone's gonna find out she's with you against her will. And for another, she'll make it a whole lot easier for 'em to track you. It's time to let her go Cal."

Millie sat on the cave floor looking over at the two men as they discussed her. She was surprised by Abe's intervention. He certainly hadn't shown her any gentleness during the time she'd been held captive by them, although he'd given her the spare bed roll. And someone had covered her with a blanket. Had that been Abe?

Abe calmly returned Cal's enraged glare and Billy looked on nervously.

"Look Cal" Abe continued, as Cal glowered at him speechless with fury. "I was only too happy to help you with Harper. I'd a good reason to want my own revenge on him, you know that. And so'd Billy." He looked over at the younger man and Billy nodded in silent affirmation. "I reckon we've done what we set out to do. We've all had a chance to hand him some punishment and I've got no sympathy for him; Harper got what was comin' to him. But I didn't plan on hangin' around here playin' games with him once we got hold of him. It's finished Cal. You got what you wanted and it's time to move on… before it's too late to get away."

"It ain't finished from where I'm lookin' Abe" Cal snarled. "I wanted Harper dead and he ain't dead yet."

Abe looked over at Millie and Jess again. Yeah, I wanted to get back at Harper Abe thought Well, I figure I got my payback. I'd rather he died in a straight fight but he's too far gone for that now. Cal's seen to that. "I reckon I've had my fill of revenge and I got no stomach for any more. Harper's lost a lot of blood. He's as good as dead and I ain't gonna help you with dishin' out any more punishment" Abe told him. "You said you was usin' Millie as a way of gettin' to Harper and it worked real good but are you sure you're not usin' her now to get your own back on Jeannie? Millie ain't Jeannie, Cal and it's time you realised that. It weren't Millie put you in jail and she had nothin' to do with Jeannie runnin' off or with Frankie's death."

Cal's face was white with anger but he knew he had to go carefully where Abe was concerned. Billie was ineffectual. He was no danger and he was expendable. But Cal needed Abe and unlike Billy, Abe could be dangerous. "We can't ever let her go Abe" he said, "she knows far too much."

Abe gave a shout of laughter. "She don't know anythin' that Sherman and the rest of Laramie don't know by now. You signed your name to that damn letter Cal and I'm willin' to bet Harper ain't kept that to himself! And you surely don't think Sherman and that Laramie Sheriff wouldn't have worked it out anyway, do ya? You spent the last two years ravin' about what you were goin' to do to Harper. They'd have to be fools not to guess who's behind all this and Sherman and that Sheriff ain't no fools. They're out there now somewhere, with a posse, lookin' for Harper. We've stayed here too long and if we don't get away soon, they'll get the jump on us. We could get ourselves a head start first thing tomorrow, to California or Mexico. Or Canada even. Whaddya say, Billy?"

Billy didn't want to say anything. He was afraid of Cal and he stayed in the background as much as he could when Cal was around. When Billy had bumped into Cal in Cheyenne he'd seemed like the man he'd known all those years back in Texas, but two years sharing a cell in the territorial prison had shown him a very different Cal. One he wouldn't like to cross. When they'd been released Billy had fallen in readily enough with Cal's plans for Harper. He'd nowhere to go and no one to go anywhere with so he'd tagged along. He'd wanted to get back at Harper the same as they all did and he'd enjoyed doing it; but things were getting a bit out of hand where the girl was concerned.

"Well, come on Billy" prompted Cal irritably "you must have somethin' to say. Abe had the guts to say his piece. Let's see whether you got enough guts to say yours, damn you!"

Billy cringed inwardly but he plucked up his courage, hoping Abe would be able to handle Cal if he flew into one of his crazy rages. "I agree with Abe. We've had our fun with Harper and I reckon he's about finished now. It don't seem right to keep a hold of Millie. Abe's right, she ain't nothin' to do with any of this and I say we get goin' first thing in the mornin'. We can give Harper's horse to Millie and set her free."

Millie was listening to the discussion. They seemed to have forgotten that she was there. If they let her go maybe she could fetch help for Jess. They were going to leave him here and she could get help… before… Millie smothered the thought quickly. She couldn't bear to think about Jess not making it. She turned her attention away from the three men sitting around the fire and looking down at Jess she saw that he was awake and wondered just how much he was aware of.

Cal's foul temper had nearly got the better of him but he realised he was up against strong opposition to his plans for Millie and he had to admit to himself that Abe might well be right about the risk. It cost him something to back down but he had no choice and he didn't want to end up in the territorial prison for the next ten years. Hell! he thought. When Harper dies, it won't be ten years, it'll be the hangman's rope and I won't be able to claim self-defence this time…

"OK Abe" Cal said in a surly voice. "I figure you and Billy might be right" he admitted. "It sure is a shame about Millie though. She's a real pretty little thing but I guess she'll never cotton to me. We'll get everythin' loaded up in the mornin'. 'Course, we could keep Millie with us as hostage until we're out of Wyoming and then let 'er go?" he suggested "But maybe she'd only slow us down" he added as Abe gave him a scathing look.

Billy realised he'd been holding his breath and he let it out in a sigh of relief.

Cal looked over at Millie and Jess. "I'd sure like to watch Harper die before I leave" he said petulantly, like a small boy forced to miss a promised treat. "Why don't you and Billy take him down to the small cave." He nodded over to the darkened shaft on the other side of the cavern. "Maybe the cold'll finish him off for us. At least we won't have to keep an eye on him and there'll be less chance of him causin' trouble if he's down there." He turned away and stared moodily into the fire.

"I don't reckon Harper's in any case to cause trouble" Abe commented.

"You don't know Harper like I do" Cal said gruffly. "He's harder to kill than an ole grizzly an' I wouldn't turn my back on him 'til he's drawn his last miserable breath."

Abe stood up and looked across at Millie and Jess. "It looks like that won't be too long in comin'. Come on Billy, I'll need a hand with him" he picked up one of the lanterns and made his way over to where Millie sat against the wall of the cave. Billy followed close on his heels, glad to move away from Cal.

Millie looked up as Abe and Billy approached and put her arms protectively around Jess.

"What are you goin' to do to him?" she demanded. "Aren't you satisfied with what you've already done? Please… don't hurt him any more."

Abe bent over Millie. "We ain't about to do anythin' to him Millie" he told her. "Cal wants him taken into that small cave tonight."

"I'm stayin' with him" Millie insisted "I won't leave him. I don't care what he says." She glared over at Cal.

Cal returned her glare dispassionately. "Just get her outta my sight…"

Abe shrugged. "OK Millie, you heard Cal."

Millie lowered Jess gently to the ground and climbed to her feet. Abe shoved him roughly with the toe of his boot and Jess roused, looking confused.

"Come on Harper. Wake up!" Abe said impatiently. Jess made an effort to focus and gave a grunt of pain as he was hauled roughly to his feet. He sagged weakly between the two men, taking a few faltering steps before collapsing and being dragged the rest of the way down the steeply descending shaft to the damp, chill little cavern.

Millie darted over and picked up the bedroll and blanket she'd been using, keeping a wary eye on Cal but he ignored her. She followed the bobbing light of the lantern down the steeply descending shaft and was horrified at the conditions in the small cave. It was cold and damp from the water which trickled down the walls and one corner of the cave floor held a puddle of dirty water.

Abe and Billy hauled Jess over to the drier part of the cave and they waited until Millie had laid down the bedroll before lowering Jess none too gently down onto it.

Millie turned to the two men. "It's freezing in here. Please, let me have Jess's bedroll and blanket? And his canteen? Please…?"

Billy shook his head, unwilling to agree to anything that might be a comfort to Jess. "We can't do that Millie. Cal wouldn't like it."

Abe looked coldly down at Jess and then he turned to Billy.

"Come on Billy, it's done; finished. Harper ain't gonna last long anyway. Go get the bedroll and bring his blanket and canteen as well. It's Millie as needs it."

Billy hesitated.

"Well, go on then Billy…" Abe demanded.

"What'll I tell Cal?" Billy asked nervously.

Abe looked a little amused at Billy's nervousness. "No need to tell him anything less he asks." Billy hesitated and Abe's amusement turned to contempt. "Just tell him it's for Millie… to keep her from the cold."

Billy disappeared into the dark tunnel muttering under his breath and Millie turned to Abe.

"You're as much to blame for what's happened here as the other two but I thank you for this little kindness. Jess means everything to me. I never would've submitted to Cal. Not ever!"

Abe put down the lantern he'd been carrying. "I know that Millie. But don't thank me for Harper's sake; I ain't doin' it out of concern for him. I ain't sorry for what I did - he killed my brother and I'd do it all over again but I'm real sorry for the trouble you find yourself in. I ain't too proud of my part in that."

"I know all about what happened to your brother" Millie said as she covered Jess with her blanket. "Jess was ridin' shotgun on the stage your brother was aimin' to rob. Your brother was shootin' at Jess and the driver, same as Cal and the others. What would you've done in their place? Would you've just sat there and let them shoot you? If Jess hadn't fired back, he and the driver might both've been killed. Jess was hit in the shoulder as it was. He only wounded your brother. It was one little piece of dirty cloth from the shirt your brother was wearin' that killed him. It got left in the wound. He got an infection from it and it spread real quick and that's why he died. And it wasn't Jess told me that. The doctor's wife told me."

"I heard nothin' about no infection" Abe said gruffly "but it don't make no never mind. What's done is done and there ain't no help for any of it now. Harper shouldn'ta warned the Sheriff and taken Billy's place that day. Cal and Billy was old friends of his and it wouldn'ta hurt 'im to look the other way. I wanted payback for Danny's death and I got it, even if it wasn't me as finished him off." Changing the subject abruptly he indicated the corner where the water pooled on the cave floor. "There's a spring in that far corner Millie. It's just to one side of that big puddle. Now, don't you touch that water… it sits there a while before it drains away but the spring's good. We use it. I'll fill the canteen for you, if Billy brings it. I reckon you could use some water."

Billy emerged from the dark tunnel carrying Jess's bedroll and blanket under his arm. He was none too happy, having had to stumble around in the dimness of the outer cave looking for everything Abe had asked him to bring. He dumped the bedroll and blanket on the floor in the dry corner of the cave next to Jess and handed the canteen to Abe, along with a small storm lantern which Jess had brought with him.

"I filled the lantern" Billy said brusquely to Millie. "If ya keep it low it might see ya through the night."

"Did Cal say anythin' to ya Billy?" Abe asked as he put down the storm lantern and went to the far corner of the cave to fill the canteen with spring water.

"Nah. He's just sittin' there, starin' into the fire" Billy said. "He's broodin' over somethin'."

Abe handed the canteen to Millie. He checked the wick in the lantern and striking a match he held it to the wick until it caught. He placed the storm lantern on the ground next to Millie's bedroll, then picking up their own lantern and turning on his heel he returned to the main cave without another word, Billy trailing behind him.

Millie knelt on the bedroll beside Jess. He was looking a bit flushed despite the underlying pallor of his face and Millie felt his forehead. He was a little hot but not too bad. It was too soon for his wounds to have become infected and Millie thought she could put it down to the pain Jess was suffering. Nevertheless, the cold and damp of the cave wasn't going to help his condition. She made sure he was lying on the bedroll and tucked the blanket around him. Shivering in the scanty evening dress she was wearing, she pulled Jess's blanket around her shoulders and tearing away a little more of her petticoat she soaked it in the cold water from the canteen. Millie lifted Jess's head and managed to trickle a little of the water past his slack lips and then she dabbed his face and neck gently with the dampened fabric from her petticoat.

Jess stirred as she dabbed the cold water onto his face. His eyelids fluttered open and he met her gaze with a faint smile.

"You OK… Millie?" he asked weakly. She bent down and kissed his forehead.

"Jess…" she sighed, looking down at him tenderly. "Am I OK? What about you Jess? I should be askin' if you're OK honey. What are we goin' to do Jess?"

Jess lifted his hand to stroke Millie's cheek and winced as the movement pulled at the knife wound in his shoulder.

"I heard 'em talkin'… some… Millie. Ain't nothin' we can do… 'cept wait." Jess said in a voice roughened by pain. "Slim and Mort… wouldn't a been… more'n five hours behind me. I reckon they'll turn up… soon's it's light." Jess had taken a surreptitious look back down the trail when he'd got back on his feet after being dragged along by Billy and he could see that Abe had done a good job of removing any signs of their passing. In fact, he'd done too good a job and the rough track looked too clean and clear. He'd also spotted a few hoof prints at the side of the trail from where Trav had sidled skittishly to one side when they'd stopped. "I reckon we left… some sign… for the posse… Did Billy or Abe… leave the cave… while I was passed out… Millie?"

Millie shook her head. "No, Jess. They've been here all the while."

"That's… real good news…" He gave her an encouraging smile. "I lost my hat… when Billy dragged me… up that trail… Maybe… Maybe they'll find that… and take a good look around."

The only light in the cave was that coming from the storm lantern and Millie had turned down the wick as low as she could without it guttering but Jess was becoming accustomed to the dimness. He looked around the small cave.

"Where… where are we…? Last time I… I came to… we were in… another cave. I remember… bein' dragged here… but where is this?"

"There was an old mine shaft behind you when you were facing Cal with the knife. It led to this little cave. It's a bit below the level of the other two and the water seeps in from the mountainside above us, that's why it's so cold and damp in here. There's a spring in the corner too and the water runs away underground… where that puddle in the corner is."

Millie gave Jess more water and dabbed the damp cloth over his forehead again. "You said you heard them talkin' Jess. Just how much were you aware of honey, when you came to before?"

"I heard snatches… not sure how much… I missed though. I… I had a five-hour ride… this mornin' before… before they jumped me. I was still hurtin' real bad… from what they did to me… after the dance on Saturday. Billy dragged me behind his horse a while… when I couldn't keep on my feet. My ribs were hurtin' before… but after they treated me… to a little more of their fun… Then… there was that knife fight…" Jess hesitated, swallowing down a groan of pain. "I was so dragged out I wasn't… takin' much notice of anythin'… but I remember lookin' up at that high ceilin'… in the other cave… and… and I remember seein' you Millie… but I… I just couldn't…" The sentence trailed away as Jess paused, exhausted. "I just couldn't… come to my senses enough… to say anythin'… before it all went black again. But I heard 'em… talkin' about lettin' you go…" He'd heard what Cal had said about him too but he kept that to himself. He'd survived worse than this. If he could just keep going until Slim and Mort got here, he had a chance.

"Oh, Jess honey." Millie bent down and kissed him on the lips. Jess returned her tender kiss but his body hurt too much to respond in any other way. He let out a small sound of pain against Millie's soft lips. She pulled away and giving him another little kiss on the forehead she sat up. "I'm sorry honey. I guess I shouldn't have done that but that last time I got to kiss you we didn't get the chance to finish it and it seems so long ago now."

Jess could feel himself starting to slip back into the darkness but he gave Millie a rueful little smile.

"It wasn't… the best kiss… I ever… gave ya… was it Mil?" he said weakly and taking in a sudden sharp hissing breath, he passed out again.

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Some little while later Abe came down the tunnel bringing Millie a plate of food and some coffee. She thanked him but he said nothing, just nodding at her before going back to the main cavern. Jess was unconscious so Millie ate the food and was grateful for the hot coffee.

Jess became more restless as the evening wore on into night and the pain of his injuries appeared to worsen. Millie could do nothing but give him frequent sips of water, cool down his flushed face with the dampened fabric of her petticoat and pray that Slim and Mort would find them soon.